Special Report: The Global Produce and Floral Show

This year’s International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show drew in attendees from more than 50 countries and a record number of merchants. More than 3,500 buyers engaged with the nearly 1,100 exhibiting companies on the tradeshow floor. This year’s show boasted the largest representation of global retailers to date in the show’s history which included international representatives from some of the largest retailers from Asia and Latin America.

“The Global Show brought out the best in worldwide fresh fruit, vegetable and flower innovations this year,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “United by our bold beliefs and relentless advocacy, we are driving innovation, efficiency and positive change for our members and industry. Together, we are building a brighter, healthier future—proving that our products matter to the world. This year’s show was an incredible three days of connections, insights and community.”

Burns delivered the annual State of the Industry presentation, emphasizing how the organization has fulfilled its commitment to its “Fight for Fresh” campaign throughout the past year. A key highlight was the unveiling of the IFPA Global Intelligence Engine, a proprietary, data-driven tool exclusively available to IFPA members. This innovative engine offers real-time insights into point-of-sale data, export and production metrics and consumer trends across fruits, vegetables and floral products. Designed to provide swift answers, visualizations and actionable recommendations, the engine is designed to enhance decision-making processes. The IFPA team showcased live demonstrations of the tool on the tradeshow floor, generating excitement among attendees about its potential to enhance industry analysis and strategy.

Another notable announcement was the development of a Global Sustainability Framework for Produce and Floral. This collaborative effort began at the show during a joint planning session between IFPA leaders and representatives from the Consumer Goods Forum. The framework aims to establish standardized sustainability practices across the industry, fostering greater environmental responsibility and consistency in sustainability efforts worldwide.

“A heartfelt thank you to our exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers and guests for joining us in Anaheim,” said Burns. “I can’t wait for Orlando in 2026!”

After the show, IFPA and Global Produce & Floral Show exhibitors donated more than 226,000 pounds of fresh, quality produce and 30,000 pounds of flowers and plants to the Orange County and Los Angeles Community. 

“We greatly value the partnerships we have with local organizations that help us to rescue and deliver produce, floral and compost to benefit the communities that welcome our show each year,” said IFPA Director of Trade Shows, Kyle McMillan. “This allows us to ensure the investments our members and partners make in our show can extend far beyond the expo floor. We’re grateful for our exhibitors for their generosity and for our local colleagues who do such important work supporting the communities who welcome our show each year.”

The collection and delivery of produce, floral and compost donations lean on a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers. On-site, professional partners sift through floral and compost materials, while Second Harvest Food Bank coordinates and trains volunteers to rescue, pack and transport the produce donations immediately after the show. This year, the generosity of donors was unrivaled which allowed for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County to extend their reach by sharing some of the produce with the LA Regional Food Bank—enabling them to serve even more community members in need.

“Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County is honored to continue our strategic partnership with IFPA at this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show,” said Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County CEO, Claudia Bonilla Keller. “This collaboration makes an incredible impact on our community. We’re grateful for the exhibitors and IFPA members for their donations which ensures nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables reach those in our community who need it most including children, families and seniors.”

This year’s floral donation was unmatched with more than 60 community partners signing up to receive floral donations, including loose stems, potted plants and bouquets, as examples. These partners encompassed organizations dedicated to supporting seniors, veterans, children with visual impairments and their families, in addition to healthcare professionals and volunteers working in the community. 

After the show, IFPA implemented a comprehensive back-of-house waste sorting operation to enhance sustainability efforts. This program maximized the collection of green waste for composting while also capturing additional waste streams such as soft plastics, cardboard and single-stream recyclables. This initiative reflects IFPA’s commitment to reducing environmental impact and promoting responsible waste management practices across the event.